Cyclonus, the Saboteur // Cyclonus, Cybertronian Fighter MTG Card


Creates card advantage by looting, optimizing hands and maintaining battlefield control. Generates Clue tokens to draw cards and accelerate resources for strategic plays. Instant speed deployment allows surprise maneuvers, changing the game’s tempo.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Artifact Creature — Robot
Abilities Connive,Convert,Flying,More Than Meets the Eye
Power 2
Toughness 5

Text of card

More Than Meets the Eye Flying Whenever Cyclonus deals combat damage to a player, it connives. Then if Cyclonus's power is 5 or greater, convert it.


Cards like Cyclonus, the Saboteur // Cyclonus, Cybertronian Fighter

Evaluating Cyclonus the Saboteur within the landscape of Magic: The Gathering, keen players may draw parallels to cards like Nekusar, the Mindrazer. Both commanders apply pressure by turning card draws into a double-edged sword. However, Cyclonus introduces a novel dynamic by focusing on just one opponent and giving the player a choice – costlier spells for safety or a riskier play with potential for sabotage from Cyclonus.

Raider’s Wake is another card that rewards strategists for opponents’ discard, but it’s a broader effect impacting each opponent rather than Cyclonus’s targeted approach. This enchantment offers a guaranteed loss of life, contrasting with Cyclonus’s chance of casting spells from the opponent’s hand. This provides a distinctly different flavor of control that emphasizes psychological impact over direct damage.

Ultimately, looking at alternatives like Rankle, Master of Pranks illustrates Cyclonus’s uniqueness. Rankle offers versatility with multiple modes, but Cyclonus the Saboteur shines with its menacing ability to cast opponents’ spells, potentially turning their own arsenal against them. The precision in targeting one opponent and manipulating their hand sets Cyclonus the Saboteur apart in MTG, encapsulating an intelligence-based form of disruption.

Nekusar, the Mindrazer - MTG Card versions
Rankle, Master of Pranks - MTG Card versions
Nekusar, the Mindrazer - MTG Card versions
Rankle, Master of Pranks - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Cyclonus, the Saboteur // Cyclonus, Cybertronian Fighter by color, type and mana cost

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Architects of Will - MTG Card versions
Glistening Extractor - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cyclonus the Saboteur facilitates access to more cards in your deck by triggering its built-in looting effect. This enables a strategic selection that ensures you have the best hand possible to counter your opponent’s moves and fortify your position on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: The card’s ability to generate Clue tokens can be a game-changer. This mechanic not only gives you a direct path to additional card draws but also ramps up your resource pool, allowing for greater flexibility in deployment of spells and creatures.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of Cyclonus the Saboteur to be deployed at instant speed adds a layer of surprise and tactical advantage. This speed allows players to utilize mana efficiently, adapt to the opponent’s actions in real time, and execute unexpected moves that can shift the tide of a match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Cyclonus the Saboteur necessitates discarding a card as part of its activation cost, which can backfire if your hand is already depleted or if the discarded card is crucial for your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Casting Cyclonus calls for a precise combination of mana types. Should your deck struggle to generate the required colors consistently, playing this card on curve might not always be feasible.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Whilst Cyclonus the Saboteur does have impactful abilities, its mana cost is on the higher end of the scale. This could slow you down, especially against decks that excel in establishing board presence quickly or disrupting mana bases.


Reasons to Include Cyclonus the Saboteur in Your Collection

Versatility: Cyclonus the Saboteur brings dynamic play to any deck, courtesy of its ability to disrupt opponents while providing card advantage. Its place in a multitude of decks, from aggressive strategies looking to maintain pressure to control decks aiming for late-game dominance, showcases its flexibility.

Combo Potential: With an innate ability to peek at the opponent’s hand and dictate their plays by forcing discards, Cyclonus opens the door for various combo interactions. It pairs well with strategies that take advantage of an opponent’s reduced hand size or that benefit from the knowledge of the opponent’s future plays.

Meta-Relevance: Especially in formats where knowledge of an opponent’s hand offers a strategic edge or where disrupting their plan can be a game-changer, Cyclonus the Saboteur maintains relevance. Its utility in a changing meta environment can’t be overstated, making it a prudent addition to collections aimed at competitive play.


How to beat Cyclonus the Saboteur

Cyclonus the Saboteur is a dynamic card that challenges MTG players to rethink their strategies. This elusive rogue has the capability to disrupt an opponent’s game plan by turning their spells against themselves. It is akin to crafty spells like Redirect or Narset’s Reversal, but Cyclonus creates a unique predicament with its flying ability, providing evasion on top of control.

One approach to counteracting Cyclonus the Saboteur is to neutralize it before its controller can take advantage of its ability. This can be done through removal spells that are quick and efficient, much like the swift action needed to halt a Mind Control effect before it turns the tides. Spells like Murder or Path to Exile offer clean solutions, allowing players to regain control of the match. Additionally, having instant-speed answers is crucial, as the Saboteur’s power lies in its capacity to strike at the most inopportune moments for its adversaries. Battle strategies that hinge on precise timing and pace control can often edge out Cyclonus’ unpredictability.

To summarize, the key to outmaneuvering Cyclonus the Saboteur in your MTG games is to anticipate its moves and have swift, decisive answers at the ready, ensuring this Saboteur’s plans are thwarted before they can fully unfold.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into MTG with Cyclonus the Saboteur, a card that demands attention for its unique ability to pilfer your opponent’s strengths. Keen understanding and utilization of this card can set you apart in competitive play. With pros and cons weighing on every decision, insight into cards like Cyclonus will sharpen your gameplay, equipping you with the versatility and surprise factor needed to outwit adversaries. Ready for advanced strategies and deck optimization? Learn the intricacies of playing with and against Cyclonus the Saboteur and refine your MTG experience. Tap into our resources today and make every match count.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cyclonus, the Saboteur // Cyclonus, Cybertronian Fighter MTG card by a specific set like Transformers and Transformers, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Cyclonus, the Saboteur // Cyclonus, Cybertronian Fighter and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cyclonus, the Saboteur // Cyclonus, Cybertronian Fighter Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-11-18 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by Volta Creation.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-11-18TransformersBOT 232015TransformBorderlessVolta Creation
22022-11-18TransformersBOT 92015TransformBlackVolta Creation

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cyclonus, the Saboteur // Cyclonus, Cybertronian Fighter has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cyclonus, the Saboteur // Cyclonus, Cybertronian Fighter card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2022-10-14 "Living metal" means "As long as it's your turn, this permanent is an artifact creature in addition to its other types."
2022-10-14 "More Than Meets the Eye
-ost]" means "You may cast this card converted by paying
-ost] rather than its mana cost." It functions in any zone from which the spell can be cast.
2022-10-14 A spell cast this way enters the battlefield with its back face up.
2022-10-14 After Cyclonus, Cybertronian Fighter converts into Cyclonus, the Saboteur, it's still an attacking creature in combat, and will still have any gained abilities. Notably, if it has somehow gained double strike, it will convert before dealing combat damage in the regular combat damage step. This may cause it to convert again when it deals combat damage to a player a second time.
2022-10-14 Any triggered ability of another card that triggers whenever a permanent transforms will also trigger whenever a permanent converts.
2022-10-14 Converting a permanent doesn't affect any Auras or Equipment that are attached to it. Similarly, any counters on the permanent will remain on that permanent after it converts. Any continuous effects from a resolved spell or ability will continue to affect it. Any spells or abilities on the stack that target a permanent continue to do so after that permanent converts.
2022-10-14 If a static ability of another permanent applies only to noncreature permanents, that ability applies to a Vehicle with living metal only during your opponents' turns. For example, if you control Arcee, Acrobatic Coupe and March of the Machines, Arcee will be a 2/2 artifact creature during your turn and a 3/3 artifact creature (because its mana value is 3) during each opponent's turn.
2022-10-14 If you copy a permanent spell cast this way, the copy has the characteristics of the card's back face, even though it isn't itself a double-faced card.
2022-10-14 Similarly, an ability of another card that instructs you to "transform" one of these cards will cause you to convert it, even if that ability doesn't use the word "convert."
2022-10-14 The convert keyword action functions the same way as the transform keyword action found on some other cards; to convert a permanent on the battlefield, turn it over so that its other face is up.
2022-10-14 The cost is an alternative cost, so it can't be combined with any other alternative costs. It can be combined with any applicable additional costs.
2022-10-14 The mana value of a converted permanent on the battlefield is equal to the mana value of the card's front face, no matter which face is up.
2022-10-14 To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost (such as a More Than Meets the Eye cost) you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of a spell cast using More Than Meets the Eye is determined by the mana cost on the front face of the card, no matter what the total cost to cast the spell was.
2022-10-14 When you cast a spell using its More Than Meets the Eye ability, the card is put onto the stack with its back face up. The resulting spell has all characteristics of that face.
2022-10-14 While it's a creature, the Vehicle has its printed power and toughness.